Machine for making link mesh



Al C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK IVIISH.V

APPLICATION FILED DEC.27, |920. V

I Patented May 2, 1922.

A. C. vPRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLlATloN HLED vec z, 1920.

Patented May 2,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' A. C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK MESH.

APPLICATION FILED nmz?. 1920.

1,414,829, rammed May2,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4V V @Av/@rm gy A. C. PRATT.

MACHINE fok Mmm; LINK MESH. APPLICATION F'ILED DEC-21. 192D.

1,414,829. AlmteruiMay 2, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

tran

ALPHONSO COMSTOCK PRATT, 0F DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR TO vIId-lI'llITG' l & DAVIS COMPANY, A CORPORAT'JION 0F MASSACHUSETTS. Y

MIACHTNE FOB MAKING LINK MESE.

ananas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No. $3,184.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, friLrHoNsol CoMs'roCK PRATT, a citizen of the United States. residing at Deepliver, in the county of Middlesex, State 0f Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Machines for YMaking Link Mesh; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make-and use the same.

The present invention relates to a machine for making link mesh and has reference more particularly toa machine -of this character for forming-links and attac-hing them to mesh fabric, the links of which lie in a plane.

Machines for fabricating link meshin a plane as heretofore constructed include in one form a set of tools for forming one link at a time, the support for the fabric being 'shifted step by step after each link foiniing operation to produce a single row of links intermeshed with the links at the edge of the fabric. In such a machine means are provided to shift the carriage laterally a half step at the beginning of each rcw to secure the proper spacing of the links.

In another form of machine of this type, a series of tools is positioned at one side of the fabric and a second series, inclined to the first, on the opposite side thereof, the number of tools in each series corresponding to the number of links in a row from edge to edge ofthe fabric. The tools in each series operate simultaneously to complete a single row of links at a time, the two series of tools alternatingin operation, one series acting first to produce a row of links having an inclination in one direct-ion, and the other series then acting to produce a row of links having an inclination approximately at right angles to the links first formed.

Machines constructed as above described differ from the type ,illustrated, for eX,- ample, in Letters Patent No. 948,615 granted to me on Feb. 8, 1910, Letters Patent No. 1,028,904 granted to me on June 11, 1912, Letters Patent No. 1,144,724- granted to me on .lune 29, 1915, and Letters Patent No. 1,317,726 granted to me Oct. 7, 1919, wherein the mesh fabric is in the form of a sleeve supported on a spirally grooved mandrel. Although in this type of machine it is common to provide a number of tools each forming links in 'separate grooves to produce a plurality of rows of links, the tools are spaced around the mandrel ninety or one hundred and eighty degrees apart, depending upon their number, all are necessarily positioned on one sideof the fabric, and the arrangement of the fabric and tools is otherwise inherently unadaptable foruse to fab,- ricate .concurrently a plurality of rows of links from edge to edge of a piece offabric, the links of which lie in a plane. v i

ln the machine of the present invention two or more rows of links may `beconcurrently produced and added to a piece of link mesh Afabric having its links in a plane, and

by reason of the fact that at leasttwo rows of links are formed at one time, the links fall in their proper positions with respect to the links at the edge of the fabric without shifting the fabric a half steppbefore beginning the rows of links.

.ln this machine there is provided the combination of a device for supporting apiece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane. Forming tools are arranged on one side of the fabric for forming links to intermesh with the links `at the edge ofthe fabric, and forming tools are arranged on the o-pposite side of the fabric for forming links intermeshing with the links formed by the tools first mentioned. The forming tools cooperate to produce concurrently a plurality of consecutive rows of intermeshing links transversely of the fabric and means are provided for shifting the supporting device and forming tools relatively one to the other to present different portions of the fabric to the tools to receive links. The tools on opposite sides of the fabric may consist of a single set of forming tools on one side 0f the fabric for forming links intermeshing with the links at the edge o-f the fabric and a set of forming tools on the opposite side of the fabric for forming links intermeshing with those formed by the first set of tools, both sets of tools forming in one operation a link ineach row. Preferably these sets of tools are arranged at an inclination to each other such that the axis-of the tools of one set is substantially perpendicular to the links formed by the other set, by which arrangement the links in one row are oppositely inclined at an angle of approximately ninety degrees with the links in the next adjacent row. Furthermore, the means for shifting the supporting device and the forming tools relatively one to the other may operate to provide a step by step movement after each link forming operation and also to shift theY supporting means after the compiet-ion of a double row of links to present different portions of the fabric to the tools to receive links. In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described the supporting deviceis shifted relatively to the forming tools.

rlhe machine may be constructed to embody the combination of a carriage including a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane and link forming tools arranged on opposite sides of the fabric; and a pawl may be provided for actuating the carriage step by step transversely of the fabric after each link forming operation, together with means preferably consisting of a cam, for rotating the roller to move the fabric at completion of the rows of links. The pawl may actuate the carriage step by step in one direction transversely of the fabric after each link forming operation, and the machine may include means for returning the carriage in the opposite direction, and a cani carried by the roller which is engaged by a cam actuating member at the end of the return movement of the carriage to rotate the roller whereby the edge of the fabric is presented to the tools.

In the specific embodiment of the invention described hereinafter the link forming tools arranged on opposite sides of the fabric are inclined to each other and spaced so as to form in one operation a li in each row and to add to the fabric concurrently two rows of links. rThe carriage has a rack which is engaged by a pawl to actuate the carriage step by step in one direction transversely of the fabric after each link formii'ig operation, and means are included for returning the carriage in the opposite direction. Furthermore, a cam is provided which is engaged by a cam actuating member at the end of the return movement of the carriage to rotate the roller whereby the edge of the fabric is presented to the tools.

The embodiment of the invention which is at present preferred is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. V1 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of the machine taken along the line 2 2 of F ig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the sets of link forming mechanism shown in 2; Fig. 4; illustrates the mesh fabric formed on the machine, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a modification in the arinlassen rangement of the link forming tools, Fig. 5 being a fragmentary and sectional plan view of both tools, Fig. 6 a sectional elevation along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 an end view, in the direction of the arrows, of one of the tools.

rlhe machine is supported on a bed plate 1 having standards 2 positioned near one end of the bed plate, and a central frame 3 extending laterally thereof. rfhc standards 2 are provided with bearings in which is journaled a power shaft 5, the latter having a belt pulley 6 at one of its ends whereby it may be connected to power. The frame 8 has inclined upper faces supporting the tables 7 on each of which is mounted a set of link forming tools. These tools are operated by shafts 8 journaled in bearings secured to the tables 7. The shafts 8 are driven by the power shaft 5 through upright shafts 9 and the bevel pinions with which each of the shafts is provided.

rllhe machine is equipped with two sets of link forming tools such as are illustrated and described in Let-ters Patent 1,317,726 issued to me on lOctober 7th, 1919. The tables 7 forming parts of each unit are inclined to each other at an angle such that the axis of operation of the link forming dies of one unit is substantially perpendicular to the links formed by the tools the other unit. Such details of the devices comprised in each unit, as are omitted herein, will be found illustrated and described in full in said Letters Patent above specilied.

Fir-ed to the operating shaft 8 is a cani l() which arcuates the meel: anisin for feeding wire to the forming tools. This cani operates a slide rod 11 to the right in Fig. the return movement of the rod being effected by a spring l2, one end of which is m'ired to the rod and the other to a i di in which it reriprocates. Mounted to reciprocate in a block 'lil is a slide lllhavingl an inclined face which eoacts with the inclined face at the end of the slide rod ll. to produce a downward movement of the slide 1d, in Fig. $3, when the slide rod is moved to the right. The slide .lil is returned by a spring 15 acting between it and the block The wire from which the links are formed passes between two friction wheels 1G, one above the other, both having grooved pe ipheries to receive the wire and being geared together as 17. wheel 16 is pressed down upon the lower wheel by an adjustable snring (not shown) and a ratchet wheel l 8 is secured on the same shaft with the lower wheel 16. The ratchet wheel 18 is actuated by a pawl 19 pivotallv i The upper Lalanne lower wheel 16 is secured, and a length of the wire sullicient to form one link is fed to the forming tools, the wire passing through guides 21 located one on Aeither side of the wheels 16.

Fixed to the shaft 8 is a cam 22 encircled by a strap 23 which is secured to a cross head 24 mounted to slide in a block 25. The cross head 24C carries a yoke 26 litting between flanges 27 on a cylindrical housing 28. lVithin this housing is a die rod 29, the end of which is threaded into the end of the housing. A coiled spring (not shown) eneircles a portion of the die rod, one end of this spring bearing against the end of the housing and the other end against a plunger 30. The plunger 30 consists of a cylindrical portion 31 and a tubular member 32 threaded into the end ot' the cylindrical member. The tubular member 32 is made up of two parts which are locked together in adjusted position relative to the cylindrical member 31 by a locknut The nut 34, adjusted on the exterior threads of the tubular member 32, is locked in position by a locknut 35 to form a stop. The inner end of the plunger 30, that is, the end of the member 32, passes through an opening in a block 36, which vopening corresponds in shape toA the cross sectional shape of the end or" the member 32. In a threaded opening at the top of the block 36 is mounted an adjustable stop 37 which coacts with the stop formed by the nuts 34 and 35 to limit the forward movement of the plunger. Each of the two parts of the tubular member 32 has secured thereto at is extrei'ne'end a spring linger 38 and the die rod 29 carries a die 39, the spring fingers projecting slightly beyond the die and have ing grooves in their ends for engaging the wire. 1 `1 Cooperating with the die 39 is an inner die 40 which `is mounted in the upwardly extending portion 41 at one end of the slide 12, the latter passing through a block 43 secured to table 7. The opposite end of slide l2 carries a cylinder 4A having a threaded opening therein tor receiving the threaded end ot' a yoke 45 in which is mounted a roller 46 in engagement with a cam 47 fixed to the shaft S. The slide 42 is moved to the right in Fig. 3 by a spring L13, and to the lett by the action ot' the cam 47 on the roller 46.

Pivotally mounted beneath the table 7 is a lever 49, the upwardly bent portion of one side ot which carries an anvil 50. The anvil 50 is normally held in a raised position by a spring pressed plunger 51 set in the table '7. The anvil 5() is depressed by a cam 52, on shaft' 8, which acts through a plunger set in the table 7, and the crank 54, to turn the lever 119 about its pivot against the spring pressure otl the plunger 51.

lilounted to reciprocate in the block 36 is a slide 55 whichv is moved to the left in Fig.

vform a closed link.

3 by a cam 56 on the shaft 8, and to the right by a return spring 61. The cam 56 actuates a slide rod 57, reciprocating in a block 58, and having at its end an adjustable extension 59 for engaging one end ot' a lever 60 pivoted on table 7, the other end of which operates the slide 55. rllhe slide has a slot 62 throughr which an additional guide 63 for the wire projects. The end portion of the slide 55 has a dove-tail groove 64 iny which the knife for cutting the wire is inserted. The slot 62 is of a Size permitting a range of action of the slide 55 suilicient for the cutting operation. Opposite the guide 63 is a spring pressed pin 65, mounted in the block 36, and against which the end of the wire abuts when it is fed to the dies by the friction wheels 16.

In forming a link, the wire is fed across the path of the dies and adjacent the anvil 50. A length sufcient to make a link is then cut off by the knife carried by slide'55 and the severed wire is held in position by the spring pressed pin 65 while the plunger 3() is advanced to engage thev wire. The wire isk engaged by the spring fingers 38 and pressed about the ,anvil 50 by the die 39 taking' the form of a staple. The anvil is then depresse-d andthe cooperating inner die 4.0 advances to engage the ends of thestaple and In order to insureA simultaneous retractile movement of the die rod 29 and the plunger l30 after the link forming operation the lever 66 pivoted on the table 7 is provided. The lever 66 is' actuacted by a cam 67 on the shaft 8 which operates a slide rod 68 reciprocating in a block 69. The end of the slide rod 68 is adjustable and engages one arm of the lever 66, the other arm of which acts upon the stop formed by the nuts 3%1 and 35 to force back the plunger 30, and particularly the portion v32 thereof carrying the spring fingers.

In this machine the two sets of link forming tools. arranged on opposite sides of the 'Fabric and inclined to each other, operate as described to form links, and to provide concurrently two transverse rows of links which are added to a piece of mesh fabric. Two links are formed in one operation of both link forming units; as the links 70 and 71 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4. This necessitates that the link forming tools of one unit be positioned to one side and above those ot' the other unit, the relative positions being such that the upper link 71 is formed to intermesh with the links at the edge of the fabric, while the lower link 70* is formed to Iintorniesh with the two last links formed by the upper tools in'nnediately preceding the operation in which both links 7 O and '71 are formed. The rows produced bythe successive links thus 'formed will have a link 72, shown in dotted outline, outside the edge of the fabrics at the beginning of 'the operation, and link 73 (shown i outline) Loutside the oder 'l l we or tne the end of the operationy which discarded ln order to impart tl e movements to the link r ,sh fabric -i the adf ion ot the li in proper places they are. formel by the ilorming tools7 the tollowing; mechanism is provided.

The link mesh 'fabric 7 #it is su a. roller 75 the surface of vwlv, 1 in@ With a plurality of ridges and dep which er je correspondre; ridges j: l: "I rfi '31 1" pressions n tno iabric. .rae ron-er .fo is hajts 8. at one end levers 87 and 88 pivand 90 in suit ble o ends of each ot' to ot k:npports 91 and 92 i bese levers are `oro' vfitn ktween llanges o sleeves 95, the lat- "er seine' mounted to slide on but not to roo eto a link 121 having a hooked nd tor Ging the paivl 80. ,Lf-rt the ends oi cach ci 'the sh( s 8 are loosely mounted s cov/'es 90 carrying bevel pinions meshing' with corrcsponoina bevel piniozfis on the power shaft 5.V Both sets oit' sleeves and 90 have eries to orm clutches. lllso pivoted 89 is a bell crank lever 9 one arm of which is in position to be engik ed by the end oi carriage 78. rlhe other rm of the bell crank lever 97 is adapted to operate a clutch formed by sleeves 98 and 99 similar in construction to they clutches formed by sleeves and 96. The sleeve 98, loosely mounted on the power shaft 5, has mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 109 and carries at its end a bevel jiiinion. The sleeve keyed to slide on the power shaft V but not to rotate with it? carrie hannes 101 between which the operative arm of the bell crank 97 hits. y'llbesprocket Wheel 100 is connected to a similar sprocket Wheel 101 by means oit chain 125, the sprocket Wheel 101 beingl secured to one end of a sleeve 102, surroundingf a stud shaft 108. The stud shaft and its sleeve supported from the guide plate 79 by means o" a bracket 104. lilounted on the other end of the sleeve 102 is a gear Wheel 105 which p. o 2l,

ratcnet teeth in their end periph-V c-ngages a rack in the under side of the carriage 78.

it the end of the bed plate 1, opposite that on which the levers 87 and 88 are mounted, is lever 107 pivoted in a bracket 108, and a lever 109 and bell crank lever 110 pivoted in a bracket 111 secured at the side of the guide plate 79. The levers 107 and 109 each has a projecting end portion. The lever 107 is connected to lever 88 by means of connecting rod 112 andlever 109 is connected to lever 87 by means of a connecting rod 113. The bell crank levers 97 and 110 are connected by a connecting rod 114:, the bell crank 97 having an additional arm 115 for this connection. Secured to the guide plat-e 79 is a bracket 116 to which is pivotally secured a cam actuating member 117 having a roller 118 at its end. The member 117 is adapted to engage the cam grooves in the periphery of the Wheel 120 Which is fastened to the end of shalt 7 0. ln order that the roller 118 may be brought in alignment with the cam grooves 119, the member 117 is made adjustable about its pivot by means a screv.7 121 passing` through a threaded opening in an extended arm 122 of the bracket 116. A flat spring 123 is provided to hold the member 117 against the stop 121. Y Y

During the link forming` operation the carriage 78 and the roller7 5 with the link mesh 7/1 move to the lett in 1. `When the last links or the two rows are formed corresponding to links 73 and 86 in Fig. l, carriage 78, through engagement with the extended end portions of the levers 87 and 88 rotate these levers about their pivots 89 and 90 respectively and the yokes 93, engagging the flanges 941-., torce the sleeves 95 and 99 out or" engagement thus disconnecting; the shafts 8 from the power shaft 5 and stopping the operation of the link forming tools. At the same time the rotation of the link 87 about its pivot moves the link 124 against the pavvl 80 and its hooked end disengages the pavvl trom the rack 81. The end o the carriage also engages one arm of the bell crank lever 97, the other arm of which acts through the flanges 101 to throw the ratchet teeth on sleeve 99 into engagement with those on sleeve 98. The sleeve 98 is thus connected to the power shaft which rotates the sleeve and the sprocket Wheel100 riz-red thereto, thus drivingf the chain 125 and the sprocket Wheel 101. lhe rotation or" the sprocket Wheel 101 causes the gear Wheel 105 to m ve the carriage 78 and roller 75 to the right in Fig. 17 and as the carriage reaches the limit otite travel to the right the cam actuating member 117 engages one of the cam grooves 119 in the Wheel 120 and rotates the roller 7 5 an amount such that the fabric is raised suicient for the attachment of another two rows ot links. ln this position the carriage engages the projecting ends of the levers 107 and 109, and also one arm of the bell crank lever 110, which then act through connecting rods 112 and 113, and-1111, to rotate the levers 87 and 88 and the bell crank lever 97 back to their original position, reconnecting the shafts 8.to the power shaft 5 and disconnecting the sleeve 98 therefrom.

It will be understood from the description that links are formed by the tools, on opposite sides of the; fabric, only during the movement of the carriage 78 and roller 75 to the left in Fig. 1 and that when the carriage and roller reach the limit of travel to the rightin the return movement, the tools are in position to begin two new rows of links after the rotation of the roller by the cam actuating member' 117 coacting with the cam grooves 119. No lateral adjustment of the carriage and roller is therefore required to bring the links in proper position for attachment of new links to the fabric, as by shifting a half step preparatory to beginning the link forming operation, where a single row of links is formed at one time.

For the purpose of retaining the roller 75 in position during the formation of the rows of links there is provided a rod 126, supported at 127 on the guide plate 79. The rod 126 is in register with circumferentially arranged apertures extending longitudinally of the roller 75 and as the carriage 78 and the roller moved to the left in F ig. 1 during the link forming operation, the rod 126 enters one of the apertures and locks the roller against rotation. The rod 126 is of such length that it becomes disengaged from the rollerat the end of the return movement to permit the shifting of the roller by the cams to position the fabric for the attachment of additional rows of links.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is shown an arrangement of the link forming units on either side of the fabric whereby the axes of the tools are horizontal instead of being inclined at an angle asv in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2. Since the details of the mechanism in this arrangement are the same as those hereinbefore described with reference to the units arranged at an angle to each other, they will be understood without further description. It will be observed that in the modified arrangement theA tools are spaced relatively to each other so that the respective sets will form a linkin each of two consecutive rows.

Suitably fastened at each end of the carriage 78 are upstanding pins 129. These pins are-,spaced apart a distance substan-v tially equal to the width of the fabric being formed, and the links at the respective edges of the fabric are formed to encircle the pins and so are supported against displacement, during a portion of the raising movement of the fabric preparatory toits the roller 75.

1n addition to the pins 129, which are intended to be spaced apart a distance such that the link mesh fabric is held substantially taut, means may be employed to guard against the slipping of the fabric on the roller, or other possible displacement especially during the raising of the fabric in position to receive additional rows of links. iuch means preferably consist of a roller mounted above the roller 75 and which is provided with a rubber covering and so positioned that the surface ofthe covering is in contact with the mesh fabric passing over the roller.

To preclude displacement of the fabric particularly during the link forming operation, the machine may furthermore'include in its construction a pair of plates, positioned one on each side' of the suspended portion of the fabric, which plates are provided with a plurality of opposing ridges extending laterallyrof the fabric and fitting the depressions therein. The plates `are brought together to enga-ge the fabric and hold it against displacement during the link forming operation, and then separated while the fabric is shifted for the addition of further links. The inward and outward Inovements of the plates are produced by connection with any suitable means of actua-tion,

being rolled on such as the driving means or moving parts of the machine.

What I claim is:v

1. In a machine for making link mesh, the combination of a device for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, forming tools on one Vside of the fabric for forming links intermeshing with the links at the edge. of the fabric, forming tools on the opposite side of the fabric for forming links inter-meshing with those formed by the tools first mentioned, said forming tools cooperating to produce concurrently a plurality of consecutive rows of intermeshing links transversely ofthe fabric and means for shifting said supporting device and said forming tools relatively one to the other to present different portions of the fabric to the tools to receive links.

2. In a machine for making link mesh, the combination of a device for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its'link's in a plane, a set of forming tools onl one side of the fabric forV forming links intermeshing with the links at the edge ofthe fabric, a set of forming tools on the opposite side of the fabric for forming links intermeshing with those formed by the first set of tools, both sets of tools forming in one operation a link in each row and cooperating to produce concurrently two consecutive rows of intermeshing links vvtransversely of the, fabric, and means for shifting said supporting device and said forming tools relatively one to the other to present the edge of the fabric to the tools to receive links.

3. ln a machine for making the combination of a device for s a piece of link mesh fabric with a plane, a set of forming tcols on one sine of the fabric for forming links intermeshinc with the links at the edge of the fabric, a set of forming tools on the opposite side of the fabric for forming links inteiuneshinv with those formed by the first set of tools, said sets of tools being arranged an inclination to each other such tht the axis of the Jcools of one set is substa .tially perpendicular to the links formed by the other set, and both sets of tools forming in c.-e operation a link in each row a nd cooperating to produce concurrently 'tire consecutive rows of intermeshing links transverse y of the fabric, and means for shifting said supporting device and said forming tools relatively one to the other, step by step, after each link forming operation, and also at the completion of the double row links le present different portions of the fabric lo the tools to receive links.

4. ln a machine for making link mesh, the combination of a device for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, a set of forming tools on one side of the fabric for forminglinks intermeshing with the links at 'the edge of fabric, a se of forming tools on the opposite side of the fabric for forming links intermeshing with those formed by the first set of tools, saic` sets of tools being arranged at an inclination to each other such that the axis cf the 'tools of one set is substantially perpendicular to the links formed by the other set, and both sets of tools forming in one operation link in each row and cooperating to produce con-- currently two consecutive rows of interinesliing links transversely of the fabric, means for shifting said supporting ccvice relatively to the forming tools, step by step, after each link forming operation, and also at the comH pletion of the double row of links to present diderent portions of the fabric to the tocls to receive links.

5. ln a machine for making link mesh, the combination of a carriage including a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, a link forming tool for intermeshing links with the links at the edge of the fabric, a second` link forming` tool for forming links intermeshing with the links formed by lthe first set of tecls, said link forming tools being arranged on opposite sides of the fabric, and operating to form in one operation a link in each row and to add to the fabric concurrently two rows of links, a pawl for actuating the carriage step by step transversely of the fabric,

iniases after each link forming operation, and means actuated by said carriage for rotating the roller to move the fabric at the completion of the rows of links.

6. ln ai machine for making link mesh, the

combina-tion of al carriage including a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, a link forming tool for intermeshing links with the links at the edge of 'the fabric, a second link forming tool for forming links intermeshing with the links formed by the first tool, said link forming tools being arranged on opposite sides of the fabric and cperating te form a link in each row in one operation and to add to the fabric concurrently two rows cf links, a pawl for actuating said carriage step by step transversely of the fabric after each link forming operation, and a cam for ro tating the roller to move the fabric at the completion of the rows ef links.

7. ln a machine for making link mesh, the I combination of a carriage including` a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, a link forming tool for intermeshing links with the links at the edgeA of the fabric, a second link forming tool for forming links intermeshing with the links formed by the first tool, said link forming tools being arranged on opposite sides of the fabric and operating` to ferm a. link 'n each row in one operation and te add te he fabric concurrently two rows of links, Y pawl for actuating the carriage step by -`tcp in one direction transversely of the fabric after each link forming operation, means for returning the carriage in the oppesite direction, and a cam, carried by said roller, engaged by a cam actuating member at the end of the return movement of the carriage to rotate the roller whereby the edge of the fabric is presented to the tools.

8. ln a machine for making link mesh, the combination of a carriage including a roller for supporting a piece of link mesh fabric with its links in a plane, a link forming tool for inter-meshing links with links at the edge of the fabric, said link forming tools being inclined to each other and spaced on opposite sides of the fabric so as to form in one operation a link in each row and lto add to the fabric concurrently two rows of links, a rack on said carriage, a pawl for engaging said rack to actuate the carriage step by step in one direction, transversely of the fabric, after each link forming operation, means for returning the carriage in the opposite direction, and a camy engaged by a cam actuating member at the end of the return movement of the carriage to rotate the roller whereby the edge of the fabric is presented to the tools. v

ln testimony whereof l aflix my signature.

ALPHNS@ CUMSTOCK PRATT. 

